A man has been jailed for three years for drug offences after a police raid on a Gzira property on Friday.

Godwin Gatt, 48 from Gzira was arraigned by Inspectors Justine Grech and Mark Mercieca and charged with trafficking cocaine, and possession of cocaine and heroin in circumstances which denoted they were not for his personal use.

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia, defence counsel, asked to approach the bench. The parties were called into the magistrate's chambers where they discussed the case in private.

Gatt, wearing jeans and a tattered duffel coat, pleaded guilty.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke, in view of his guilty plea, sentenced the man to 3 years prison and a fine of €1,000, also ordering him to bear the costs of appointing experts in this case.